Legionnaire

Myslevtsev A.S.

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A legionnaire (Latin legio, genitive legionis - military assembly, from lego and legere - to gather) is a type of ancient heavy infantry, the basis of the ancient Roman state's army. The main combat unit of the legion. Legionnaires were recruited exclusively from citizens of the Roman state. Legionnaires were a kind of "universal soldiers": they had weapons not only for close combat - gladius, pugio and scutum, but also for long-range - pilum. Some historians call legionnaires "heavy shooters", once again emphasizing the importance of throwing weapons in the legionnaire's equipment.

Legionnaire's Career

Promotion in service was largely determined by the military's pedigree. Many wealthy patricians did not start service from the bottom, but immediately occupied commanding positions.

Ordinary citizens of the empire, who entered military service without bribes, expected quite modest career prospects.

The key that opened the way to honors was courage and bravery on the battlefield. Josephus Flavius ​​told how during the storming of Jerusalem, Roman warriors competed with each other in courage, "and each hoped that this day would be the beginning of his promotion, if he fought bravely." The military leader, in turn, promised promotions and honors to those who would be the first to climb the city wall.

As a rule, the most intelligent and strong legionnaires were first appointed to special positions. The most achievable was the status of a decanus, however, it gave little advantage over ordinary legionnaires. More privileged positions were tesserarius or frumentarius. Showing outstanding abilities, a legionnaire could attract the attention of a centurion and become his deputy - an optio, which increased the salary and made the serviceman part of the small command staff. An optio could serve up to a centurion and stay on an increased salary in the Roman army even after completing the main term of service. This title was the maximum achievable for most residents of the empire. It should also be noted that there were a huge number of varieties of centurions, differing in military hierarchy. The highest rank of a centurion was called primipilus - "the first warrior of the legion". This was the last senior rank, the holder of which personally participated in combat operations. In rare cases, it was possible to get the post of camp chief - Praefectus Castrorum. There are rare cases when prefects later became governors in small provinces. In most cases, the ranks of legates and other senior officers were held by representatives of wealthy patrician families.

As a rule, the most intelligent and strong legionnaires were first appointed to special positions. The most achievable status dean, but it offered few advantages over ordinary legionnaires. The more privileged positions were the tesserary or frumentary. By showing outstanding abilities, a legionnaire could attract the attention centurion and become his deputy optio, which increased the salary and made the employee part of a small command staff. Optio could rise to the rank of centurion and remain on an increased salary in the Roman army after the end of the main service period. This title was extremely achievable for most of the empire's inhabitants. It should also be noted that there were a huge number of varieties of centurions that differed in the military hierarchy. The highest rank of a centurion was called primipilus - "first warrior of the legion". This was the last rank in terms of seniority, the bearer of which personally participated in combat operations. In rare cases, it was possible to get the post of head of the camp - Praefectus Castrorum. There are rare cases when prefects later became viceroys in small provinces. In most cases, the ranks of legates and other senior officers were held by members of wealthy Patrician families.

There was also the opportunity to be transferred to an ala - Roman cavalry, first receiving the position of scout (explorator), and then decurion (decurio). After serving in the ala, it was possible to be transferred back to the infantry already at a higher position. In addition, there was a prospect of promotion up the career ladder in the standard group, where the most experienced veterans with an increased salary were taken. For example, vexillarius, Imaginifer, Signifer and other types of standard-bearers could eventually serve up to an aquilifer - one of the most important and responsible positions in the legion.

Legionnaire's Equipment

The equipment of a legionnaire for the period of the 1st-2nd century AD could consist of the following elements:

Fabric/leather items:

• Pileus

• Paenula, Sagum

• Focale

• Subarmalis

• Tunic

• Bracae

• Subligaculum

• Caligi, Calcei

• Socks

• Wrappings

Metal protective equipment items:

• Galea

• Segmentata, Squamate, Hamata

• Cingulum

• Manica

• Ocrea

Weapon:

• Pilum

• Gladius

• Pugio

• Scutum

Additional elements:

• Fibula

• Rings

• Saccus

• Purse

Not all of the above-mentioned equipment items were necessarily and universally used. For example, according to the images that have come down to us, legionnaires could be without armor at all. Manica and, especially, greaves were not widely spread (the latter are characteristic of the later armament of legionnaires at the beginning of the 2nd century). The same applies to simpler equipment items, like bracae and subarmalis.

Atypical Images of Legionaries

In addition to the classic panoplia of a heavily armed infantryman, in parallel there was an alternative set of equipment, and it was used specifically in the legions, and not elsewhere. Unlike classical legionnaires, whose weapons included a gladius, a barrel-shaped scutum and a pilum, these legionnaires could be equipped with lenticular shields and/or even spears (possibly lances instead of pilums shown on reliefs).

According to one version, they could be partially depicted with equipment from their native places or from past places of service (this would explain the presence of equipment used by Roman soldiers of a later period). It is especially important to note that this trend has been noticeable since the middle of the 1st century AD, long before the widespread use of such equipment in the legions of the early 3rd century.

A detailed discussion of shields, polearms, swords and greaves is treated separately in Evolution of Legionary Equipment. The article also explains why lenticular and oval shields in a classic Principate context should be treated as a separate category rather than as the norm for an ordinary legionary.

Reenactment

You should carefully choose your time period, as the equipment from the Republican period to the late Empire changed quite significantly. If we consider the most typical periods for ancient reconstruction in Russia (which our club also adheres to), there are two most common images: a legionnaire from the second half of the 1st century AD and the first half of the 2nd century AD. The main differences lie in the helmet, lorica (if segmentata is used - Corbridge for the early period legionnaire, Newstead - for the late period), and the suspensions on the cingulum (in the uniform of the 2nd century legionnaire they are much shorter, or even absent). A greave on the left leg is an attribute of a later period legionnaire.

There are also less obvious differences in armament: the pugio should be of the second type for the 1st century legionnaire, and of the third type for the 2nd century legionnaire, and the "Fulham" type gladius can only be used by a 1st century legionnaire.

You should start creating an image with the simplest things that are included in the minimum set: tunic, shoes (caligae/calcei), cingulum.

The image does not have to be immediately based on a full set of armor. There are many sources from tombstones where the legionnaire is not in full combat readiness, but rather in “civilian” equipment. This can be used for a simpler base. Thus, you should start creating a reconstruction kit with the simplest things included in the minimum kit: tunic, shoes (caligas/calcei), cingulum.

Related topics

Legion, Auxilia, Paenula, Sagum, Focale, Subarmalis, Tunic, Bracae, Subligaculum, Caligi, Calcei, Lorica segmentata, Lorica squamata, Lorica hamata , Cingulum, Manica, Ocrea, Pilum, Gladius, Pugio, Scutum, Fibula, Evolution of Legionary Equipment

Literature

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• Dando-Collins, Stephen. Legions of Rome. The complete history of all legions of the Roman Empire / Translated from English by N. Y. Zhivlova.

• Eliseev M. B. Remo-Macedonian wars. Legion against the phalanx. - Moscow: Veche, 2016. - 416 p.: ill. - Series "World History". — ISBN 978-5-4444-4926-4.

• Zelinsky F. F. Roman Empire. - St. Petersburg: Aleteya, 2000. - 496 p — - ISBN 5-89329-071-2.

• Cowan Ross. Roman legionnaires. 58 B.C.-69 A.D. / Translated from English by N. A. Fenogenova. - Moscow: OOO "AST", Astrel, 2005. - 72 p.: ill. - Series "Elite troops". — ISBN 5-17-027924-8.

• Chris McNab. The Roman Army. The greatest military machine in history / Translated from English by V. L. Silaeva. - Moscow: Eksmo, 2014. - 272 p.: ill. - Series "Illustrated history of military art". — ISBN 978-5-699-74397-1.

• Mattesini Silvano. Roman legions. All about the most powerful army of the Ancient world / Translated from Italian by I. E. Andronova. - Moscow: Astrel, 2012. - 216 p.: ill. — ISBN 978-5-271-38826-2.

• Mattesini Silvano. Soldiers of Rome. 1000 years of history. Organization. Armament. Battles / Translated from Italian by I. E. Andronova, Moscow: OOO "AST"; OGIZ, 2013. - 216 p.: ill. - ISBN 978-5-17-081614-9.